TEA Special Needs & Inclusive Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A principal receives a request from parents to conduct a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) for their child. Under IDEA, what is the maximum number of school days the district has to complete the evaluation after receiving written parental consent?
- 30 calendar days
- 45 school days (Correct answer)
- 60 calendar days
- 90 school days
Correct answer: 45 school days
Under Texas Education Code aligned with IDEA, districts must complete a Full and Individual Evaluation within 45 school days of receiving written parental consent.
Question 2: During an ARD committee meeting, a parent disagrees with the proposed placement for their child with autism. The parent requests mediation. Which statement best describes the principal's responsibility in this situation?
- The principal must immediately comply with the parent's placement preference.
- The principal must inform the parent of their right to mediation and ensure the district offers it at no cost. (Correct answer)
- The principal can deny mediation if the committee has already reached consensus.
- The principal should postpone the ARD until mediation is completed.
Correct answer: The principal must inform the parent of their right to mediation and ensure the district offers it at no cost.
Principals must ensure parents are informed of their procedural safeguards, including the right to mediation, which districts must offer voluntarily and at no cost under IDEA.
Question 3: A student with a learning disability receives extended time on tests as an IEP accommodation. A teacher refuses to provide this accommodation, citing fairness to other students. How should the principal respond?
- Support the teacher's decision since classroom management is within their discretion.
- Immediately require the teacher to implement the accommodation and provide professional development on legal obligations. (Correct answer)
- Convene an ARD to remove the accommodation since it is creating classroom conflict.
- Document the teacher's concern and address it at the next IEP annual review.
Correct answer: Immediately require the teacher to implement the accommodation and provide professional development on legal obligations.
IEP accommodations are legally binding; the principal must ensure immediate compliance and address the teacher's misconceptions about disability law.
Question 4: Which federal law specifically prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs receiving federal financial assistance and requires schools to provide a free appropriate public education?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Correct answer)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded programs and requires FAPE, covering students who may not qualify for IDEA services.
Question 5: A principal wants to increase the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings. Which strategy best supports this goal while maintaining appropriate supports?
- Moving all students with IEPs into general education classrooms without additional supports.
- Implementing co-teaching models where general and special education teachers share instructional responsibilities. (Correct answer)
- Reducing the number of special education paraprofessionals to encourage student independence.
- Limiting IEP services to pullout settings to protect general education instruction time.
Correct answer: Implementing co-teaching models where general and special education teachers share instructional responsibilities.
Co-teaching models allow students with disabilities to access the general curriculum with specialized support while remaining in the least restrictive environment.
Question 6: Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which component of the IEP documents how the student's disability affects their involvement in the general curriculum?
- Transition services plan
- Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) (Correct answer)
- Behavioral intervention plan (BIP)
- Extended school year (ESY) determination
Correct answer: Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP)
The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) describes the impact of the disability on the student's participation and progress in the general curriculum.
Question 7: A campus principal is reviewing disaggregated data and finds that students receiving special education services are not meeting proficiency benchmarks at the same rate as the general population. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Remove struggling students from state accountability testing using available exemptions.
- Analyze whether IEP goals are aligned to grade-level standards and whether instructional strategies are evidence-based. (Correct answer)
- Increase paraprofessional support hours as the primary intervention.
- Request a blanket waiver from the state for special education accountability requirements.
Correct answer: Analyze whether IEP goals are aligned to grade-level standards and whether instructional strategies are evidence-based.
Analyzing goal alignment and instructional quality is the appropriate data-driven first step to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
TEA Special Needs & Inclusive Education 2
A principal receives a request from parents to conduct a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) for their child.
Under IDEA, what is the maximum number of school days the district has to complete the evaluation after receiving written parental consent?